On 2/06/08, Val wrote: > My daughter got a new young cockatiel. We're not sure on> the sex yet. He/she is starting to make this little rolling> whistle. Do females wolf whistle also? The breeder said it> was to early to tell if it was a male . It's a yellow> cheek. Do they get the same sold grey tail like the normal> gray when they mature?

Dear Val,

Hubby & I had two cockatiels. Turned out one was female and the other was male. Couldn't tell till they were mature and one started laying eggs and the other mounted the female, so we then knew it was a male. From talking to our veteranian doctor who also had two cockatiels, he said that the only way to really know early is to "sex" them which is a surgical procedure, and is painful for the birds. He did not recommend it. His two were named Harry and Harriet and he found out the same as we did, after a couple of years "Harry" started laying eggs and "Harriet" was the male.

Our two were "Sydney" the female (YES!) and Ladybird the male! We referred to them as he and she for the beginning years incorrectly and continued so as not to confuse them and ourselves. After all, they don't really know what "he & she" meant.

Sadly, Sydney died of old age five years ago (spent hundreds to try and save him!) and Ladybird remains with us at age 17! She was affected greatly by Sydney's death and for a full year she (he) explored everywhere and called for him (her) constantly. She lost interest in the many things they did together. We didn't want to start over with another bird mate for her as no one could assure us of sex, and we were told they mate for life anyway, and they may end up not accepting one another, fighting and such.

She gets lots of attention and love from us and seems content enough now.

Also from talking to other cockatiel owners, seems male birds tend to be more vocal and squawk a lot, which happened to us.